BROOKLYN, Mich. – After 120 laps and two stages, the race could now be official. Any driver in the lead might conceivably win if rain intervened.
Clint Bowyer had finished second to teammate Kevin Harvick in the second stage, and both came to pit road. Bowyer took only two tires — and felt that decision by crew chief Mike Bugarewicz ultimately won the race.
"It was a gamble on his part," Bowyer said. "It was uncharacteristic for him. That's part of growing and blossoming as a crew chief."
After that quick pit stop, Bowyer had outside position on Harvick on the ensuing restart and took the lead. Rain halted the race not long after that, giving Bowyer his second NASCAR Cup Series win of the year.
Harvick finished second and pole winner Kurt Busch took third, completing a 1-2-3 sweep for Stewart-Haas Racing in a race stopped after 133 of 200 laps. Kyle Busch was fourth, the lone Toyota near the top in a Ford-dominated race.
Ryan Blaney won the first stage and Harvick took the second. On the pit stop moments later, Bugarewicz made the call to go with only two tires, figuring other leaders would do the same, since bad weather could arrive shortly and track position was important.
"When we were coming on pit road, I was 100 percent sure two tires was the right call. We got about three-quarters of the way down pit road, I was about 70 percent sure," Bugarewicz said. "When he slid into the pit box, I was about 50 percent sure. By then, we were leaving. It was too late.
"Clint asked, 'Are we the only one with two?' Yeah, we're the only one with two."
